THE IMPACT STUDY OF ETWINNING PROJECTS ON SCHOOLS IN ROMANIA

Abstract

The article presents the impact study of eTwinning projects in Romania, particularly assessing effects in terms of pedagogy, teacher professional development and pupil learning, and analysing the factors that contribute to, or constrain, successful participation in eTwinning projects. The study provide a good understanding of the eTwinning action using a wide range of methods in qualitative research: interviews with eTwinning teachers in the school, interviews with non-eTwinning teachers and Head teachers/heads of department within the school, focus groups with eTwinning project participants among school pupils, focus groups with representatives of parents of pupils involved in eTwinning project(s), interviews with representatives of local education authorities, local communities impacted by the school and/or eTwinning activities. The research explores the views of participants in eTwinning in 3 schools at different stages and levels of involvement, from newcomers to experienced eTwinners. The study shows an interesting teachers’ opinion with regard to the need of technology integration in the learning process. In order to visualize project impact, teachers expect: to increase their knowledge on other cultures and to analyze different formal educational system in a practice oriented situation. Teachers can design and use ICT based tools for transforming and improving the teaching of disciplinary content. They improve the ability to deal with some new themes and subjects. They are very interested to use a new methodology for school subjects, based on ICT usage. Teachers can use teaching strategies that focus on student achieve (The learner centered approach). Students learn in an appropriate learning environment, by reflecting about learning to learn, different learning styles and how to use them in professional life. They organize their work cooperatively in partnership; They communicate effectively across cultures and build successful cross cultural relationships; They express their ideas-opinions by creating multimedia products. The benefits of eTwinning for the school are: increasing openness to European cooperation; adding a new element in the supply of school curriculum; better parental involvement in school activities.